Bed bugs get all the press these days. Comparatively, silverfish (and their cousin the firebrat) are pretty harmless, but man are they ugly. It doesn't help that they hang out in cold, dark, damp places like the basement or under the bathroom sink. If you've spotted one of these lurking in your house, or have an infestation, we have some tips for first preventing, then getting rid of them.

Silverfish come in a bunch of varieties, are pretty creepy-looking, and get their name from their silvery or gray color. You might recognize their carrot-shaped bodies and tons of antennae sticking out. They move quickly, and like to come out at night. So basically, everything you really want in a bug.

The good news is: they don't bite, spread disease, or do a lot of damage. They mainly hang around because they like nibbling on starchy stuff like paper, glue, dry goods, and cereal boxes. That, and dead skin cells.

GOOD RIDDANCE

If you do find yourself with an unwelcome silverfish bug — or god forbid a parade of them in your house — and want to do something about it, here's several natural approaches. No chemicals needed:

Put out some cedar, or spray crevices with cedar oil. Silverfish reportedly don't like the stuff, and steer clear.

Try sticky traps.

Put something starchy (i.e. bread) in a jar wrapped with masking tape. The poor suckers will climb up to get the food, then won't be able to get out.

PREVENTION

If you see one silverfish every once in awhile, it's not a huge deal. It's when they show up in greater numbers that you can justifiably start getting heebie-jeebies. To discourage them from arriving in droves, take the following preventative measures:

Don't leave piles of newspaper or mail around. Similarly, get rid of old cardboard boxes in the basement.

Store off-season clothing in sealed bins and somewhere dry.

Vacuum regularly to pick up food crumbs (and potentially suck up any eggs).

Keep dry food in containers with tightly sealed lids.

Long term, you also want to deal with any moisture problems:

Use a dehumidifier.

Install a better bathroom fan for showers.

Seal any cracks or crevices to keep them from entering the home, or laying eggs while they're in there.

Clear the perimeter around your home of leaves and other damp debris.

Do you have silverfish in your house? What have you tried to control and prevent them?

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When Dabney's not writing around here, she's digging through other people's attics for fun and interesting stuff, or running around with her bloodhound Friday. Originally from the East Coast, she's still shocked to find herself living in Missouri.